In celebration of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we are putting together a gallery of some of the most contemporary mosque interiors from around the world.

Last year we focused on the overall architecture of modern mosques, but this year we have decided to look inside for some striking designs, from Indonesia to Qatar.

Here are the seven modern mosque interiors:

1. Al Irsyad Mosque by Urbane

The Irsyad Mosque designed by Urbane is located in West Java, Indonesia. With a capacity to accommodate approximately 1,000 people, the mosque is designed to ‘blend in’ with nature. Surrounded people are able to look out and appreciate the external scenery.

2. Chandgaon Mosque by Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury

The Chandgaon Mosque by Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury is located in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The architect began by identifying the essential elements of a mosque to create a new form and articulation for a typology that goes back for a millennium and a half. The result is this monolithic and spare mosque, pared down to two identical cuboid structures.

The first is the front court, its heavy masonry walls punctuated with low, wide openings onto the surrounding landscape, with a large eyelike opening above. In the second volume, the naturally lit mihrab wall is balanced by an iconic, cut dome. While the apertures give a sense of openness and draw in light and ventilation by day, by night they allow light to shine out of the mosque like a beacon.

3. Islamic Community Centre and Mosque by Henning Larsen Architects

Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, Henning Larsen’s mosque is a combination of Nordic and Islamic styles. The walls and ceiling are pierced by a constellation of windows and skylights that carry light across the interior space.

4. Al Ansar Mosque by FARM

Created in collaboration with KD Architects, the Urbane won an national competition to rejuvenate the aging Al Ansar mosque in Singapore. The key design intent was to improve the accessibility and connectivity of the mosque to the surrounding estates by increasing the visual and physical porosity of the existing building, making it a truly community mosque.

A large ground plaza, sheltered from the weather and filled with huge steps and ramps is created as the main urban gesture. The identity of the mosque is strengthened with a clear relationship between old and new. The new, while it is boldly expressed as an addition, also gently embraces the old and maintains a separation with a series of airwells and high volume spaces which allows daylight to enter into the building.

Constructed from a overlapping series of metal structures and mesh screens, it forms a highly intricate Arabesque-inspired pattern which filters daylight and views into the spaces within.

5. Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies by Mangera Yvars Architects

The mosque for the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies features a large white cavernous structure with Quranic verses embossed into its large ceiling, dotted with small lights reminiscent of twinkling stars, while having the capacity to hold 1,800 people in its indoor prayer halls and outdoor courtyard.

The main (male) prayer room on the first floor features an in-house, as yet unstocked library, and a large gilded mehrab in a Qur’an verse-lined alcove.

The mosque rests on five structural pillars and is decorated with verses. Underneath, water flows from four streams originating from a garden that lines the perimeter of the building.

6. Sancaklar Mosque by Emre Arolat Architects

The interior of the Sancaklar mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey is a simple cave-like space, becomes a dramatic and awe inspiring place to pray and be alone with God. The slits and fractures along the Qiblah wall enhances the directionality of the prayer space and allows daylight to filter into the prayer hall.

The project constantly plays off of the tension between man-made and natural. The contrast between the natural stone stairs following the natural slope of the landscape and the thin reinforced concrete slab spanning over 6 meters to form the canopy helps enhance this dual relationship.

7. Şakirin Mosque by Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu

Newspapers in Turkey have labeled this mosque as the most modern mosque in the country. It is also the first mosque to be designed by a woman. Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu is the architect behind the interior design of the mosque, while Hüsrev Tayla is the leading architect.

The mosque features calligraphy on the interior of the dome and large windows on three sides of the prayer hall, designed by Orhan Koçan. The minbar is made in acrylic and designed by Tayfun Erdoğmuş. Decorative motifs are derived from Seljuk art.

The large, asymmetrical chandelier has waterdrop-shaped glass globes made by Nahide Büyükkaymakçı and is “reflecting a prayer that Allah’s light should fall on worshipers like rain,”. The women’s praying area is designed especially to allow female worshipers to have a clear view of the chandelier. The fountain in the courtyard was designed by William Pye. The mosque is built over a parking garage and also includes an exhibition area